Nursing bottle



ximri March 26, -1957 l. GREENSPAN NURSING BOTTLE Filed Marsh 8, 1955 This invention relates generally to portable containers and more particularly relates to a novel construction for a container of relatively small volume which will enable the solute and solvent of a predetermined solution to be stored therein separated one from the other and thereafter mixed in the container immediately prior to the time it is desired to dispense the solution.

The principles of the invention may be utilized to provide containers capable of use in a Variety of dilferent ways, however, they are especially adapted for practical application in those areas where sterility or non-contamination of the solution is of major importance. Such special areas of use include feeding of infants from nursing bottles where the milk formula must be properly sterilized, preparing aqueous solutions where the water supply is questionable, not available or contaminated such ed States Patentrs1 as under field conditions a soldier is often placed, or

where the solute and solvent must be stored isolated one from the other until the solution is required to be used in order to prevent deterioration likely to occur upon standing of the solution. It is contemplated that the invention will be particularly useable as a nursing bottle since the same will substantially eliminate many, if not all of the recognized problems connected with sterilization of milk formulae for infants. The principles of the invention will be discussed in connection with their application to nursing bottles, without intention to minimize the adaptability of the container embodying the invention to other areas of use.

The normal home procedure for sterilization and storage of an infants formula is an extensive, lengthy one requiring meticulous care and caution. The nursing bottles and all equipment employed in the procedure also must be sterilized. The formula is either sterilized separately or concurrently with the nursing bottles, and refrigerated in the nursing bottle until used. The nursing bottle cannot be removed from the refrigerater for long periods of time prior to feeding of the infant since bacteria multiplies rapidly in warm milk. Of course the danger of contamination is ever present during all the exposed handling of the equipment and formula, the pressing need for thorough sterilization methods being further emphasized by the universal requirement of sterilized water in such formulae. It suffices to say that the sterilization, storage and use of infants formulae are attended by serious considerations and problems which at present have not been solved to any substantial satisfaction.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a container of the character described which is particularly useful as a nursing bottle, and which will substantially eliminate all of the disadvantages heretofore encountered in connection with sterilization, `storage and use of infants formulae will be substantially eliminated.

It is an important object of the invention to provide a nursing bottle of the character described which is constructed to afford two normally sealed compartments. The solute is stored in one compartment while the solvent is stored in the second compartment isolated from the 2,786,769 i Patented 4"Menu 26, 1 957 solute. The nursing bottle has means operable from exterior of the container enabling the compartment containing the solute to be opened immediately prior to the time it is desired to dispense the solution to be formed by said solute and solvent whereby to enable the solvent to dissolve the solute and permit the solution to be formed directly in said bottle without being touched by human hands.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of the character described which may be formed of a pair of detachably connected sections providing said compartments and which enable the container to be refilled with the solute and solvent for repeated use thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide -a container of the character described comprising upper and lower sections detachably connected together to form the container, said lower section having an upstanding hollow formation perforated at its top end providing one compartment and a plug frictionally engaged in the perforation, the opposite end of the formation having means capable of being operated to disengage the plug from the perforation, said solute being stored in said hollow formation with the compartment sealed and the sections connected cooperatively to provide a second compartment for storage of solvent isolated from the solute.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of the character described which is formed entirely of synthetic plastic resin enabling the various parts thereof to be simply and economically fabricated.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a container of the character described which by reason of its construction enables the solute and solvent to be stored therein already sterilized and thereafter enables the solution to be made without handling of the Vsolute and solvent whereby substantially to eliminate contamination.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, in connection with which a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail and shown in the accompany` ing drawing. It is contemplated that minor variations in the size, arrangement, proportion and construction of the parts of the invention will occur to the skilled artisan without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of th advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the container embodying the invention, a portion thereof being broken away to show certain details.

Fig. 2 is a median sectional View taken through the said container.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 2 showing the manner in which the plug expressing means operate.

Referring now to the drawings, the container embodying the invention is designated generally by the reference character 10 in Pig. l. Since it is contemplated the invention may be adapted especially for use as a. nursing bottle, the embodiment shown is for a nursing bottle of conventional shape and size. The bottle lil preferably is comprised of two main sections which will be referredto for convenience as upper section 11 and lower section 12. These sections may be formed Vof suitably rigid material such as glass, synthetic plastic resins, metal or selected combinati-ons of these materials, although it is believed that the synthetic plastic resins may be advantageously used in the interest of economy of manufacture and'high resistance to breaking.

Considering upper section 11, same is a substantially cylindrical, hollow member formed with a reduced diameter neck portion 13 at one end thereof. The neckportion 13 denes the mouth of the member and is provided with externally disposed ridges 14 for screwing a cap member 15 on said neck 13. The cap member 15 has/an opening 16 in the top wall 17 thereof permitting passage therethrough of the rubber nipple 13. Nipple 1S has an annular ange 19 spaced from `the dome portion of the nipple providing the annular groeve. 2n. The cap` and nipple are engaged over the mouthof neck pertion 13 with the nipple 1S extending through opening 16, and the iiange' 19 resting on neck 13. ScrewingY down on the cap. 15 causes wall 17 to` bear against iiange. 19 to prevent inadvertent removal of the nipple. The construction of the cap, nipple and neck 13 are well known per se in the conventional nursing bottle.

The opposite endof the section 11 is open, and the inside surface 21 is recessed as at Z2 adjacent the extremitythereof to provide the tongue 23 of reduced thickness. Asl shown inFig. lk the section 11 may he provided with exterior planarsurfaces 24 to facilitate handling of the container.

Thesection 12 is a generally cup-shaped member havingy an annular side wall 25 upstanding from thebottom wallv 26l thereof. The outside diameterY of the wall 25 is identical to that of section 11 with the exterior surface of said wall 25 recessed as at 26 to provide the tongue 27 of reduced thickness at the extremity of wall 23.

Wall 26 has a central opening 2S therethrough` providing ingress to a hollow upstanding formation 29 on the interior surface 3i) of said wall. The formation 29 has been shown substantially tubular in contiguration with its rounded end 31 remote from wall 26 perforated as ttt-32. The configuration of formation 29 may be varied as a matter of choice. Th'eopposite end 32 of said formation is open and joined to surface 36 surrounding opening 28 so that access to the interior ofthe formation 29 may be had through opening 2S. The formation 2g may be formed as a separatemember and attached to wall 26 by suitable bonding means such as indicated at 33 or in the case of plastic being usedV toV form section 12', formedintegrally with wall 26 by suitable techniques. In any event, it is contemplated the walls 25, 2n and formation 29 co-act as integrated unit and will be referred to as one of the compartment units of which the bottle 1t) willbe seen to be formed.

The bottle is assembled as seen in Fig. 2. The opening 32 is closed by means of a flexible stopper or plug 34 preferably of soft` rubber. The stopper 34 is formed with a circumferential` groove 3S which Vis engaged by the wall. 31 defining opening. 32 when the stopper is mounted.

The sections 11 and 12 are then joined by juxtaposing the tongues 23 and 27. A layer of wax 36' or other sealing agent is placed over' the exposed line of juncture of the sections on the exterior of the bottle and a strip of tape 37 is placed over the wax layer' insuring an air-tight and water-tight union of the two sections 11 and 12.

The hollow formation 29 is sealed at its opposite end 32 by means of a plug 33 which is force-litted through opening 28 into the hollow chamber 39of said formation. The plug 38 may be formed of hard rubber or suitable plastic and has a threaded passageway 49 therethrough. Y

Inserted into the passageway 40 is an elongate screw having aV threaded shank 41 from the end face 42 of whichextends a plunger rod 43 of reduced diameter. The opposite end of the shank 41 carries a knurled knot 44 by means of which the screw may be rotated. The shank 41 is threadedly engaged in the passageway 4%' with the free'end 45 of rod 43 aligned. opposite stopper 34 and knob 44. exterior of the container.

vThe container 10 is assembled as described with a desired solute 46 placed in the compartment 39 formed in formation 29, Of course, the solute is sterilized beforehand as are the various parts of the container 1t). With the plug 38 and screw properly engaged in the formation 29 the compartment 39 issealed with the solute an irnmune toV contamination. The compartment or chamber 50-deiined by the sectionsvllV and 12 is lled with sterilized solvent 51, such as. distilled water through the mouth of neck 13. The cap and nipple 18 are then screwed onto neck 13'and any suitable covering cap (not shown) for nipple 18 may be provided.

It is contemplated that the container 1t) with the solute and solvent stored therein may be sold with a removable capping member over the mouth thereof and the nipple 1S and cap 15 installed just prior to using the solution.

As shown in Fig. 2, the end 45 of plunger rod 43 is spaced from the stopper 34. The solute 46 is isolated in the chamber 39 from the solvent 51 in chamber 50. To prepare the solution, the knobl 4d is rotated to move the end 43 toward stopper 34. As the end 45 bears against stopper 34, a force will be exerted against said stopper sufficient to overcome the resilient engagement of said stopper in opening 32 and push the same out of said opening. T he movement of the rod 43 is shown in broken lines 53 andthe expressed stopper is designated When the container is inverted, the solute and solvent will intermix with the stopper floating to the position indicated at 55. Thus, once the stopper is expressed from opening 32 there is little likelihood, `if any, of the stopper' inadvertently returning toa position suicient to clog opening 32. The container may then be shaken or inverted repeatedlyV completely to dissolve solute 46 in the solvent 51. This formation of the solution takes place entirely within tt e container liwithout possible contamination. The plug 38 may also be recessed on its outer surface permitting knob 44 to be screwed thereinto flush with the exterior surface of wall 26. This will enable bottle 10 to be stood on end without tipping.

After the solution has-been dispensed from the container 10 or it is desired to dispose of solution remaining therein, the container may be reiilled and used again. This is possible merely by' removing the seal provided by tape 37' and wax 36 and separating the sections 11 and 12. The plug 38 and screw are removed and the parts sterilized. New solute is then placed in chamber 39, the sections 11V and 12. reassembled, and the chamber 50` refilled with solvent 51. The container is then ready for use again. Thus, it is not necessary to dispose of the container 10 after once u'sed since refilling is a simple task permitted by the novel construction of the device.

The parts of the container may be made from various materials. Success has been achieved by forming the shank 41 and rod 43 froml polystyrene. The sections 11 and 12 likewise may be formed from polystyrene or polyethylene. It is desired to emphasize again that the application of the principles of the invention as hereto` fore describedv is notlim-ited to a nursing bottle, however, it is contemplated that application of the invention to provide a nursingbottle as described will enable a clearer understanding of the'. invention. Likewise, the solute 39 need not be solid material but may include a liquid solute desired to be dissolved in solvent 51.- Also, bottle 1G may be formed asan integral unit with the formation 29 subsequently installed through an opening in wall 26, in which case the two-section structure would be dispensed with. It should be clear that any solution may be formed in the manner describedwith the limitation that the solution and its formation have no adverse effect on the material of which the container is made.

It will be seen that there has'been provided a novel container the construction of which enables formation of a solution directly in the container without possible contamination. So long as the solution has not been formed, .the container may be stored without refrigeration, as in they instance of nursing bottles, until it is desired to use the same; The' lengthy and tedious operation of sterilization is' eliminated since all-of the ingredients are sterilized prior to being stored in the container. [t is believed that thel invention has been described in sufiicient detail to enable the artisan toA understand practice the same'. I't is intended'the' scope of the inver.- tio'n be circumscr'ibed as`pa`r't'icitlarl`y pointed out in the claims'V hereto appended.

I claim:

1. A portable container in which a predetermined solution may be prepared at a desired time prior to using same comprising, a hollow body member dening a compartment having an outlet in one end thereof and an oppositely disposed end wall, a hollow formation upstanding from said end wall toward said outlet providing a second compartment having an opening arranged to connect with the interior of the rst compartment, a flexible closure member removably engaged in said opening sealing the same, solute and solvent carried in said compartments separated one from the other which upon inter-mixture will form said solution, and means carried on said end wall manually operable from exterior of the compartments for disengaging the closure member from the opening to permit intermixture of the solute and solvent, the solution thereafter being dispensed through the outlet, said means comprising an elongate rigid member having a threaded shank engaged through said end wall and a straight rod protruding from said shank aligned opposite said opening inside said formation, the diameter of said rod being less than the cross-sectional dimension of said opening, said means being removably installed to permit access into the second compartment from exterior of the container.

2. A container as described in claim 1, in which said body member is formed of a pair of sections detachably secured together along a line of juncture spaced above said end wall, one section is a generally cup-shaped member having said end wall as the bottom wall thereof, said bottom wall having a passageway therethrough communicating with the interior of the second compartment, and said elongate member is movable in said bottom wall through said passageway.

3. A container as described in claim 1 in which said body member is formed of a pair of sections detachablyconnected one to the other, and said upstanding formation and manually operable means are carried on one of said sections.

5. A nursing bottle comprising, a generally cylindrical hollow upper section having a tapered end defining a mouth for the bottle, and open at its opposite end, a cupshaped lower section detachably connected along a transverse line of juncture to said opposite end, said lower section having an end wall and an elongate hollow structure supported on the end wall and extending into the upper section toward said mouth, said end wall having a passageway therethrough communicating with the interior of said structure at the bottom extremity thereof, the opposite extremity of said structure having an opening therein providing communication between the interiors of said upper section and structure, a llexible stopper frictionally engaged in said opening normally sealing the interior of said structure from said upper section, a plug having a bore therethrough removably seated in said passageway, an elongate plunger having a threaded shank extended through said bore on opposite sides of said end l wall, a straight rod extending outwardly from the end 4. A container as described in claim 1 in which said 40 face of said shank in alignment with said stopper inside said structure, solute and distilled water separately stored in said upper section and structure which upon intermixture are capable of forming a milk formula, said plunger being manually rotatable from exterior of the bottle to engage said straight rod against the stopper and exert an axial force against the stopper sucient to eject same from said opening so as to permit intermixture of the solute and water, and a cap removably secured over the mouth of the bottle.

6. A bottle as described in claim 5 in which the diameter of said straight rod is less than the diameter of said opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 14,688 Maiden July 15, 1919 779,749 Tinling Jan. 10, 1905 821,579 Austen May 22, 1906 2,533,806 Holzapfel Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 574,993 Germany Apr. 22, 1933 

1. A PORTABLE CONTAINER IN WHICH A PREDETERMINED SOLUTION MAY BE PRESENT AT A DESIRED TIME PRIOR TO USING SAME COMPRISING, A HOLLOW BODY MEMBER DEFINING A COMPARTMENT HAVING AN OUTLET IN ONE END THEREOF AND AN OPPOSITELY DISPOSED END WALL, A HOLLOW FORMATION UPSTANDING FROM SAID END WALL TOWARD SAID OUTLET PROVIDING A SECOND COMPARTMENT HAVING AN OPENING ARRANGED TO CONNECT WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE FIRST COMPARTMENT, A FLEXIBLE CLOSURE MEMBER REMOVABLY ENGAGED IN SAID OPENING SEAL ING THE SAME, SOLUTE AND SOLVENT CARRIED IN SAID COMPARTMENTS SEPARATED ONE FROM THE OTHER WHICH UPON INTER-MIXTURE WILL FOAM SAID SOLUTION, AND MEANS CARRIED ON SAID END WALL MANUALLY OPERABLE FROM EXTERIOR OF THE COMPARTMENTS FOR DISENGAGING THE CLOSURE MEMBER FROM THE OPENING TO PERMIT INTERMIXTURE OF THE SOLUTE AND SOLVENT, THE SOLUTION THEREAFTER, BEING DISPENSED THROUGH THE OUTLET, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGAE RIGID MEMBER HAVING A THREADED SHANK ENGAGED THROUGH SAID END WALL AND A STRAIGHT ROD PROTRUDING FROM SAID SHANK ALIGNED OPPOSITE SAID OPENING INSIDE SAID FORMATION, THE DIAMETER OF SAID ROD BEING LESS THAN THE CROSS-SECTIONAL DIMENSION OF SAID OPENING, SAID MEANS BEING REMOVABLY INSTALLED TO PERMIT ACCESS INTO THE SECOND COMPARTMENT FROM EXTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER. 